Cardinal Donald Wuerl

Because materialism, secularism and individualism are "rapidly enveloping our society and culture," Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl urged Catholics to actively participate in the Church's new evangelization efforts "to proclaim the Gospel anew."

Wuerl said in an address at The Catholic University of America: "This is a time when voices need to be heard that says there is an anchor, there is a basis, a moral foundation to the choices we make."

The "subtle influences" of materialism, secularism and individualism, he added, "need to be cleared away before we can plant the seeds" of faith.

Wuerl said the new evangelization is an effort to re-propose the Gospel to those who already know the faith but for whom it holds no interest.